Refrigerator car construction



April 22, 1941 J. 5. LUNDVALL REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION Filed Julyl, 1959 1N VENTOR.

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 REFRIGERATOR CAR CONSTRUCTION John S. Lundvall,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Asbestos & Rubber Company, Chicago,111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 1, 1939, Serial No.282,399

9 Claims.

' The present invention relates to insulated walls and floors and moreparticularly to the insulated walls and floors of railway refrigeratorcars.

The conventional refrigerator car wall comprises spaced inner and outerwalls with heat insulating material therebetween. The insulatingmaterial is usually secured to the outer spaced wall by means of spacedapart cleats of wood bolted to the Wall and the inner spaced wall isthen secured to the cleats, as by nailing.

The conventional refrigerator car floor is constructed in the samemanner, substantially, having inner and outer walls, insulationtherebetween, cleats or stringers for holding the insulation against theouter wall and the floor is then secured to the cleats or stringers asby nailing.

An object of this invention is to provide a rigid connection between thespaced walls whereby to prevent the inner wall from moving, relative tothe outer wall, due to thrusts caused by shifting of lading in the car.

Another object is to provide uniform, predetermined compression of theinsulation by the cleats, which uniformity is difficult to obtain by theprior method of tightening the bolts against a compressible insulationwith no compression limiting means.

Another object is to provide an inner wall free from unevennessthroughout its area, which unevenness is caused in the prior structuresby an uneven alignment of the cleats to which the inner wall is secured,caused by a variation in the tightening of the cleat securing bolts.

Another object is to prevent relative movement between the spaced wallswhich causes a loosening up of the Wall seams and joints, permittingmoisture from interior of car to enter the insulation, causingdeterioration and general lessening of the insulating value of the wallor floor.

Another object is to permit the use of a continuous blanket ofinsulating material of substantially the same area as the area of thewall to be insulated, thereby eliminating joints and seams between aplurality of sections of insulation as used in prior constructions tocover a wall of given area, said joints and seams being subject toopening up or otherwise separating and permitting an exchange of airbetween the interior of car and the exterior of car.

Another object is to provide a refrigerator car floor rigidly supported,intermediate the sides of the car, by a part of the car underirame,wherebyto prevent sagging or springing of the lading supporting floordue to the placing of varying loads upon the floor and. the action ofsaid loads upon the floor caused by the vertical oscillation of the carin transit, particularly in the case Where steel flooring is used. Steelflooring is usually constructed as adjoining steel sheets secured at theseams in order to make them watertight and any movement of the sheetsrelative to the adjoining sheets results in a loosening of the jointsand resultant leakage of the car moisture into the insulation.

Numerous other objects, advantages and inherent functions of theinvention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood fromthe following description, which, tlakeh with the accompanying drawingdiscloses a preferred embodiment exemplifying the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional View through a refrigerator car,showing the floor construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the floor and end wall,taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 ofFig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-4 ofFig. 2, showing a modification of the cleat spacing means illustrated inFigs. 1 and 3.

In the drawing the usual parts of the car are shown, such as center sillI5; -side sill ll; side wall l9; car floor 2|; end Wall 23 and floorrack 25.

In the construction shown in the drawing the end wall comprises acorrugated metal outer wall 27, an inner wooden wall 29 and aninsulation 3| between the two walls and held in contact with wall 2'! bymeans of spaced apart cleats 33 intermediate wall 29 and saidinsulation, said cleats being adapted to squeeze the insulation againstwall 27. The outwardly extending corrugations in wall 2'! may beprovided with wood fillers 35 which may be secured to wall 2? bysuitable fastening means, as bolts 31, said fillers providing backingmeans, intermediate the inwardiy extending corrugations, for insulation3!.

Insulation it may be compressively held between cleat 33 and filler 35by means of a bolt 39 having a headed portion 4! countersunk in theouter face of filler 35, said bolt extending through filler cleat i3 anda compression limiting member d3, intermediate cleat 33 and filler 35. Awasher 35 may be provided on bolt 39 intermediate member 53 and filler35 to prevent the member 43 from pulling into the wood filler when bolt39 is pulled up tight.

Member 43 may comprise a platedike member 45 adapted for parallel,abutting engagement with the compression face of cleat 33 and may haveopposed marginal flanges 41 adapted to embrace the adjacent sides ofcleat 33. Plate-like member 46 may be provided with a laterally andoutwardly extending embossment 4t terminating in a sleeve-like member 56adapted to abut washer 35, said embossment and associated sleeve-likemember having a centrally located bore i therethrough, whereby bolt 39may extend through bore 51 and a threaded tightening nut may be appliedto the threaded portion of bolt 35, within the cavity formed by theembossment 48, in countersunk relationship with plate-like men ber 45.

Bolt 39 may be mounted in filler 35 before said filler is mounted onwall 21. After mounting filler 35 on wall 2'! the threaded portion ofbolt 39 1 will extend in a horizontal position in the manner of studs,and bolts 32 are preferably provided in aspaced apart row or seriesextending across the face'of the wall. Insulation 3% may comprise aplurality of layers of compressible insulating material and may haveapertures therethrough adapted to register with the outwardly extendingbolts 39. The apertures in the insulation may be of suitable size topermit the embossment 38 and adjacent sleeve-like portion 56 to extendthrough said apertures in the mounted insulation.

The preferred method of applying the insulation and completing the wallconstruction consists of the following:

Washer 45 may be mounted upon outwardly extending bolt 39 with onesurface abutting adjacent face of filler 35. The insulation 3! may betemporarily secured in position against wall 2? and filler 35, withbolts 39 extending through the apertures in said insulation. Compressionlimiting means G3 may be inserted in the apertures through insulation 3iand mounted upon bolt 39 with sleeve portion 59 of the member 13abutting washer 45, after which a threaded nut may be applied to bolt 39and tightened against the inner surface of embossment 58 whereby member43 is clampingly secured in mounted position upon end wall 27, and theinsulation is relatively loosely positioned upon said car end by meansof member 43.

Cleat 33 is adapted to squeeze insulation 3i against wall 21 and fillers35 and may comprise 'a Wooden stringer having apertures therein adaptedto register with the projecting threaded bolts and may be supported inthe saddle portion of member t3 defined by plate-like member 46 andflanges A l. Aperture 55 may have an enlarged counterbore adjacent oneof its ends adapted to receive tightening nut 57 and associated washer53, applied to end of bolt 39, whereby nut 57 and the end of bolt 39will not extend beyond adjacent face of cleat 33. Upon tightening nut 5?upon bolt 39 cleat 33 may be drawn tightly against member '23, wherebyinsulation 3i will be compressed between cleat 33 and wall 27. Aftercleat 33 is secured in insulation compressing position the inner wall 29may be secured to the cleat 33, as by nailing.

The floor construction shown in the drawing comprises a lower floor 5iand a spaced apart upper floor 63 with insulation 64 therebetween. Astringer 55, for supporting upper floor 63 in rigid spaced relationshipwith center sill l5 and for compressing insulation 64 against centersill aeeaioe l5, may extend longitudinally of the car, intermediateupper fioor 63 and insulation 64.

Stringer 65 may be secured in predetermined spaced relationship withcenter sill l5 and the compression of insulation 64, by stringer 65, maybe regulated by the rigid spacing members 43 intermediate stringer 65and center sill l5. The stringer and associated spacing members 43 maybe clampingly secured upon center sill It by bolts El extending throughstringer, spacing members and center sill.

While I have shown and described what I now consider to be the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative andI contemplate all changes and roodifications that come Within the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerator car, means forming an outer wall, a layer ofinsulating material on said wall and having an aperture therethrough andmeans to hold it in place comprising a cleat, anchoring means extendingthrough the aperture in said insulating material and anchoring saidcleat on said outer wall, and spacing means extending through theaperture in said insulating material for limiting the compressive efiectof the cleat on said insulating material, said anchoring meanscomprising a bolt carried on said wall, said spacing means comprising aplate having a socket opening on one side of the plate and an elongatedembossment on the other side of said plate, said plate having anaperture through said embossment opening in said socket for receivingsaid bolt whereby said plate may be supported on the bolt, and held inplace by a nut on said bolt in said socket whereby the cleat may be heldagainst said plate by fastening means on said bolt without interferencefrom said nut in said socket.

2. Insulation for a refrigerator car wall comprising a support extendingfrom and amxed to s id wall, a flexible insulating sheet suspended fromsaid support, a washer on said support provided with an embossmentextending toward said wall, a thimble on said support intermediate saidembossment and said wall, clamping means on said support countersunk insaid embossment adapted to clampingly secure said washer inpredetermined spaced relationship with said wall whereby said insulatingsheet will be compressively held between said washer and said wall.

3. A heat insulating structure comprising a vertical wall, a blanketinsulation suspend-ed upon said wall, a support for said insulationextending from and affixed to said wall, said support extending througha. perforation in said insulation, a washer mounted upon said support, asocket in said washer, a thimble upon said support intermediate saidsocket and said wall, clamping means on said support within said; socketadapted to clampingly secure said washer in predetermined proximity tosaid wall whereby said insulation will be compressively secured betweensaid washer and said wall.

4. In a refrigerator car wall, a flexible sheet insulation affixedthereto, a cleat for compressively securing said insulation in adjacentrelationship with said wall, a support extending through said insulationand said cleat and affixed to said wall, a perforated plate on saidsupport intermediate said cleat and said insulation provided with anembossment, a thimble on said support intermediate said wall and saidembossment clamping means on said support within said em bossmentadapted to clampingly secure said plate in predetermined spacedrelationship with said wall, and clamping means on said support adaptedto clampingly secure said cleat in abutting relationship with saidplate, said insulation bein supported normally by said cleat, said plateand said thimble.

5. A refrigerator car wall comprising spaced inner and outer walls and aflexible insulating sheet therebetween, a cleat intermediate one of thespaced walls and said sheet adapted to compressively secure said sheetbetween said cleat and the opposite spaced wall, bolt means afiixed tosaid last named wall and extending transversely through said sheet andsaid cleat, a perforated plate on said bolt means parallel with andintermediate sai d sheet and said cleat provided with an embossmentextending toward said sheet, a thimble upon and coaxial with said boltmeans intermediate said embossment and said last named wall, threadedholding means on said bolt means within said embossment adapted toclampingly secure said plate in predetermined spaced relationship withsaid last named wall, and threaded holding means on said bolt meansadapted to secure said cleat in abutting relationship with said plate,said insulating sheet being suspended upon said bolt means.

6. A refrigerator car wall comprising inner and outer spaced walls and aflexible insulation therebetween, a plate intermediate one of the spacedwalls and said insulation adapted to compress said insulation betweensaid plate and the opposite spaced wall, 'bolt means aflixed to saidlast named wall extending horizontally therefrom and extending throughsaid insulation and said plate whereby to suspend said insulation andsaid plate upon said last named wall, said plate being provided with anembossment extending toward said insulation, a thimble upon and coaxialwith said bolt means intermediate said embossment and said last namedwall, and clamping means upon said bolt means Within said embossmentadapted to c lampingly secure said plate in predetermined spacedrelationship with said last named Wall.

'7. A refrigerator car wall having a flexible sheet of insulation inparallel, adjacent, suspended relationship therewith, a cleat forcompressively securing said sheet in adjacent relationship with saidWall, means for limiting the compressive movement of said cleat towardsaid wall comprising a plate parallel with and intermediate said cleatand said sheet, a laterally projecting member on said plate havingcooperative backing engagement with said wall, said plate having asocket portion opening toward said cleat, bolt means affixed to saidwall and extending horizontally therefrom and transversely through saidsheet, said plate and said cleat, clamping means on said bolt meanswithin said socket portion adapted to clampingly secure said plate inpredetermined insulation-compressing, spaced relationship with saidwall, and clamping means on said bolt means adapted to secure said cleatin abutting engagement with said plate.

8. A structure a defined in claim 7 wherein the plate is provided withopposed marginal flanges adapted to embrace adjacent opposed sides ofsaid cleat to prevent movement of said cleat laterally of said plate.

9. In a floor structure having a sill, an insulation, supported by saidsill, a flooring above said insulation, a stringer intermediate saidinsulation and said flooring, a supporting member intermediate saidstringer and said sill comprising a saddle portion adapted tosupportably engage the under surface of said stringer and having alaterally extending portion thereon adapted. to extend transverselythrough said insulation and abut said sill,v said laterally extendingportion being relatively small in cross-section whereby the aperture insaid insulation will be relatively small, and whereby to limit themovement of said stringer toward the said sill and provide apredetermined compression of said insulation between said stringer andsaid sill.

JOHN S. LUNDVALL.

